Hospital stretcher



Aug. 28, 1962 P. c. TABBERT HOSPITAL STRETCHER Filed Nov. 21, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Pau/ C. 226607 ATTORNEY Aug. 28, 1962 P. c. TABBERT HOSPITAL STRETCHER 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1960 jiz z i INVENTOR. Pou/ C. 7Erbber/ I!"b A AT TORNEY HOSPITAL STRETCHER Paul C. Tabbert, Bridgman, Mich,assignor to Tabbert Manufacturing Company, Bridgman, Mich, a corporationof Michigan Filed Nov. 21, 1960, Ser. No. 70,673 9 Claims. (Cl. -86)This invention relates to a hospital stretcher. The main objects of thisinvention are- First, to provide a wheeled hospital stretcher which isrelatively simple in structure and has a wide range of adjustability andrequires little manual effort to operate.

Second, to provide a stretcher which has a wide range of adjustment inwhich the platform is supported for vertical and tilting adjustment, theadjustment being easily accomplished when the stretcher is in use.

Third, to provide a wheeled stretcher with means for anchoring it in itsadjusted positions.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims. A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View partially in verticalsection of a stretcher embodying-my invention With the platform shown inone elevated tilted position, anchoring legs being shown in actuatedposition.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end elevational view viewed from the right ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view viewed from theleft side of FIG. 4, illustrating certain details of the platformadjusting means.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line 44 of FIGS.1 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view with the anchoring legs inretracted position.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view on a line corresponding to line6@ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view illustrating means forlocking the spindle of one of the caster wheels against rotatingmovement. 7

The embodiment of my invention illustrated includes certain features ofthe stretcher illustrated in my application for Letters Patent, SerialNo. 848,063, filed October 22, 1959, now Patent No. 3,026,542. It shouldbe understood that in practice a housing is provided which encloses theoperating means for raising and lowering the stretcher. The carriage ofthe embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises the elongatedcentrally disposed longitudinal body member 1 and cross members 2fixedly mounted on the ends thereof, see FIGS. 1 and 2. The casterWheels 3 are provided with bearings 4mounted on the ends of the crossmembers 2. Uprights 5 are centrally disposed and project upwardly fromthe carriage frame and are provided with longitudinal or verticallyextending slots 6 of substantial length.

The platform 7 is provided with downwardly projecting posts 8 and 9, thepost 9 having a curved slot 19 therein. These posts are connected by thestrut 11 and the platform is provided with an adjustable backrest 12pivoted at 13 and adjustably supported by the strut 14 swingably mountedon the links 15 and adjustably supported by the manually manipulatedscrew 16. This screw is rotatively supported by the swivel bearing 17.Desirably the platform is provided with guard rails 18 which arecollapsibly mounted thereon. This adjustment of the back or head 'restand these guard rails form no part of this invention the center thereof,as shown in FIG. 1.

means Patented Aug. 28, 1962 which are pivotally connected at theirinner ends by the pivot 20 which is slidably engaged with the verticalslot 21 in the guide 22, which is centrally positioned and projectsupwardly from the body member 1. These support members 19 are tiltablysupported by the links 23 pivotally connected at their lower ends to theframe member 1. The upper ends of these links 23 are connected 'to thesupport members 19 by pivots 25. A cross bar 26 extends between theuprights 5 and is connected to the members 19 by the links 27 pivoted tothe support members at 28 and pivotally connected to the cross bar at29. The pivots 29 engage the vertical slots 6.

In the embodiment illustrated the platform is raised and lowered by ahydraulic unit designated generally by the numeral 30, which includes apump cylinder 31 and piston rod 32, being connected to one of themembers 19 as is illustrated in FIG. 1. The foot means for operating thepump includes the pedal 33 and release means is operated by the pedal34. This mechanism is described in my application for patenthereinbefore referred to, and therefore is not described or illustratedin further detail.

There are many conditions in hospital uses where it is desirable to tiltthe platform. The embodiment of my invention illustrated includes therack 35 which is fixedly mounted on the platform at 36 to projectdownwardly at the outer side of and in parallel relation to the post 9.The crosspiece 26 has an end portion 37 which projects beyond the post 9and has a bracket 38 on the outer end thereof provided with a spindle 3%to which the gear 40 is fixedly connected by the spline indicated at 41,see FIG. 4. The worm gear 42 is also secured to the shaft 3? and themanually actuated worm 70 is mounted on the bracket 38, see FIGS. 1, 3and 4, to coact with the worm gear 42 and is provided with a manuallyoperated crank 71. This provides means by which the stretcher can be'tilted even when occupied, with relatively little manual effort, and itis retained in its adjusted position without the necessity of anylocking means other than the adjusting means described.

It is frequently desirable to secure the stretcher in an adjustedposition and that is accomplished by the laterally spaced pairs of legs43 which are connected by the crosspiece 44 and are desirably providedwith rubber feet 45. These legs are pivotally mounted onthe hangers 46secured to the underside of the longitudinal frame member 1, one pair oflegs being disposed at each side of The legs also have crosspieces 47disposed above their brace members 44, and pairs of legs are connectedby the links 48 extending between these crosspieces. The legs are heldintheir retracted position, as illustrated in FIG. 5 by means of thecoil spring 49, which is connected to the frame member 1 at 50 and tothe legs. An actuating lever 51 is pivotally mounted at 52 on the frameand is provided with a foot piece 53 and connected to the legs by meansof the link 54 which is pivotally connected to the lever at 55 and tothe crosspiece of the adjacent pair of legs, as illustrated in FIG. 6.These legs are of such length relative to the diameter of the wheelsthat they sustain a substantial amount of the weight of the stretcherwhen they are inerected position and in engagement with a surface overwhich the stretcher may be translated on its Wheels, see FIG. 1. It isnot desirable that the entire load be on the legs, but that such portionof the load be on the legs as to prevent travel of the stretcher on itswheels.

In FIG. 7 I illustrate means for locking at least one of the casterwheels so that its spindle cannot rotate. is a desirable feature tofacilitate guiding the stretcher. This feature of the invention isillustrated in FIG. 7, in which the spindle 56 of the wheel yoke 57 isprovided with a hub portion 58, having a recess-like keeper 59 withwhich is provided with a retracting spring 63 and is actuated toengaging position by the actuating cam 63 'pro .vided with a hand piece64.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe othermodifications or adaptations as it is' believed thatvthis disclosurewill enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention asmay be desired.

7 Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage frame including ,acentrally disposed longitudinal body member and cross members at theends thereof, wheels mounted 'on the said cross members, uprights havingvertical slots therein mounted on said carriage frame at the ends andcentrally thereof, a platform having downwardly projecting postsdisposed in overlapping guided relation to said uprights, one of saidposts having a longitudinally extending arcuate slot therein, means forsupporting and vertically and tiltably adjusting said platformcomprisling. adjustable support members pivotally connected at theirinner ends, sup-porting links for said support members pivotallyconnected thereto and-pivotally mounted on said longitudinal bodymember, means for vertically guiding the inner ends of said supportmembers, a crossbar, links connecting the outer ends of said supportmembers to said crossbar, the upperends of said connecting links andsaid crossbar having guiding engagement with said slots in saiduprights, said crossbar projecting at one end thereof beyond the posthaving the curved slot therein, manually'operated means for adjustingsaid support members and supporting them in their adjusted positions andfor controlling the returnmovemenit'thereof, a down- Wardly projectingrack mounted on said platform. at the outer side of and in parallelrelation to said post having the curved slot therein, a first gearmounted on the projecting end of said crossbarin meshing engagement withsaid rack, a worm gear disposed axially of and connected to said firstgear, and a manually actuated worm rotatably mounted on said crossbar incoacting relation. to said worm gear.

2. Ahospital stretcher comprising a carriage, uprights ha ving verticalslots therein mounted on said carriage, a platform having downwardlyprojecting posts disposed in overlapping guidedrelation to saiduprights, one of said posts having a longitudinally extending arcuateslot therein, means for supporting and vertically and tiltably ad--justing said platform comprising adjustable support members pivotallyconnected at their inner ends, supporting links for said'support memberspivotally connected thereto and pivotally mounted on said carriage,means for vertically guiding the inner ends of said support members, acrossbar, links connecting the outer ends of saidjsupport members tosaid crossbar, the upper ends of said connecting links and saidcrossbarhaving guiding engagement with said slots insaid uprights, saidcross bar projecting at one end thereof beyond the. post having thecurved slot therein, manually operated means for adjusting said supportmembers and supporting them in their adjusted positions and forcontrolling the return movement thereof, a downwardly projecting rackmounted on said platform at the outer side of andin parallel relation tosaid post having the curved slot therein, a first gear mounted on theprojecting end of said crossbar in meshting engagement with said rack, aworm gear disposed axially of and connected to said first gear, and amanually actuated worm rotatably mounted on said crossbar in coactingrelation to said worm gear.

3. A hospitalstretcner comprising a carriage frame including acehtrallydisposed longitudinal body member and cross members at the ends thereof,wheels mounted o the said cross members, uprights having vertical slotstherein mounted on said carriage frame at the ends and centrallythereof, a platform having downwardly propect- 'ing posts disposed inoverlapping guided relation to said uprights, one of said posts havingalongitudinally ex-. tending arcuate slot therein, means for supportingand vertically and tilta'bly adjusting said platform comprisingadjustable support members pivotally connected at their inner ends,supporting links for said support members pivotally connected theretoand pivotally mounted 'on' said longitudinal body member, .means forvertically guiding the inner ends of said support members, a crossbar,links connecting the outer ends of said support members to saidcrossbar, the upper ends of said connecting links and said crossbarhaving guiding engagement with said slotsin said uprights, means foradjusting said support members, a downwardly projecting rack mounted ion said platform, a first gear mounted on said crossbar in meshingengagement with said rack, a worm gear connected to said first gear, anda manually actuated worm'rotatably mounted on said crossbar in coactingrelation to said worm gear.

4. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage, uprights having verticalslotstherein mounted on said carriage,

a platform having downwardly projecting posts disposed in overlappingguided relation to said uprights, one of said posts having alongitudinally extending arcuate slot therein, means for supporting andvertically and tiltably adjusting said platform comprising adjustablesupport members pivotally connected "at their inner ends, supportinglinks for said support members pivotally connected thereto and pivotallymounted on said carriage, means for vertically guiding the inner ends ofsaid support members, a crossbar, links connecting the outer ends ofsaid support members to said crossbar, the upper ends of said conectinglinks and said crossbar'having ghidingengagement with said slots in saiduprights, means for adjusting said support members, a downwardlyprojecting rack mounted on said platform, a first gear mounted on saidcrossbar in meshing engagement with said a. V worm gear connected tosaid first gear, and a manually actuated Worm rotatably mounted on'said'crossbar in coacting relation to said wormgear. l p

5. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage, uprights mounted on saidcarriage, a platform having downwardly projecting posts disposed inguiding relation to said uprights, means for supporting and verticallyand tiltably adjusting said platform mounted on said carriage andcomprising support members pivotally connected at their inner ends,supporting linksfor said support members pivotally and adjustablymounted on said carriage, a

crossbar, links connecting said crossbar to said adjustable 7 7 supportmembers, said crossbar having guided engagement with said uprights,means for adjusting said support members and supporting them in theiradjusted positions and for controlling the return movement thereof, arack mounted. on said platform to project downwardly there from, meansfor supportingly adjusting said rack mounted on said crossbar andincluding a Wormgear drivingly 7 associated with said rack, and amanually actuated 'w r'm mounted on said crossbar in coacting relationto' said Worm gear. j V d I 6. A hospital stretcher comprising acarriage, uprights mounted on said carriage, a platform havingdownwardly V projecting posts disposed in guiding relation to saiduprights, means for supporting and vertically and tiltably adjustingsaid platform mounted on said carriage and comprising supportmembers pivotally connected at their inner ends, supporting links forsaid support members pivotally and adjustably mounted on said carriage,means for simultaneously adjusting said support members, a crossbar,links connecting said crossbar to said adjustable support members, saidcrossbar having guiding engagement with said uprights, a rack mounted onsaid platform to project downwardly therefrom, and means forsupportingly adjusting said rack including a manually operatedreversible gear drivingly associated with said rack.

7. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage frame including acentrally disposed longitudinal body member and cross members at theends thereof, Wheels mounted on the said cross members, uprights mountedon said carriage frame at the ends and centrally thereof, a platformhaving downwardly projecting posts disposed in overlapping guidedtiltable relation to said uprights, one of said posts having alongitudinally extending arcuate slot therein, means for supporting andvertically and tiltably adjusting said platform comprising a crossbarhaving guiding engagement with said uprights, means for verticallyadjusting said crossbar, said crossbar projecting at one end thereofbeyond the post having the curved slot therein, a downwardly projectingrack mounted on said platform at the other side of and in parallelrelation to said post having the curved slot therein, a first gearmounted on the projecting end of said crossbar in meshing engagementWith said rack, a worm gear disposed axially of and connected to saidfirst gear, and a manually actuated Worm rotatably mounted on saidcrossbar in coacting relation to said worm gear.

8. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage, uprights mounted on saidcarriage, a platform having downwardly projecting posts disposed inoverlapping guided tiltable relation to said uprights, one of said postshaving a longitudinally extending arcuate slot therein, means forsupporting and vertically and tiltably adjusting said platformcomprising a crossbar having guiding engagement with said uprights,means for vertically adjusting said crossbar, a downwardly projectingrack mounted on said platform, a first gear mounted on the projectingend of said crossbar in meshing engagement with said rack, a worm geardisposed axially of and connected to said first gear, and a manuallyactuated Worm rotatably mounted on said crossbar in coacting relation tosaid worm gear.

9. A hospital stretcher comprising a carriage frame including acentrally disposed longitudinal body member and cross members at theends thereof, Wheels mounted on the said cross members, uprights mountedon said carriage frame at the ends and centrally thereof, a platformhaving downwardly projecting posts disposed in overlapping guidedtiltable relation to said uprights, one of said posts having alongitudinally extending arcuate slot therein, means forsupporting andvertically and tiltably adjusting said platform comprising a crossbarhaving guiding engagement with said uprights, means for verticallyadjusting said crossbar, means for tiltably adjusting said platformincluding a rack depending therefrom, a Worm gear supportedly connectedto said crossbar and operatively connected to said rack, and a manuallyactuated Worm mounted on said crossbar in coacting relation to said Wormgear and constituting means in coaction therewith to adjustably supportsaid platform.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS862,414 Roberts July 5, 1906 1,633,638 Jarvis et al June 28, 19271,866,696 Birman July 12, 1932 2,707,794 Kramcsak May 10, 1955 2,905,952Reichert et a1. Sept. 29, 1959 2,941,626 Heiden June 21, 1960 2,945,242l-leiden July 19, 1 960 FOREIGN PATENTS 207,039 Austria Jan. 11, 1960

